The next morning...
Sunlight streamed through the window.
Saito slowly opened his eyes.
He stretched his arms above his head before walking over to the window.
He pushed it open.
A cool breeze drifted into the room.
Saito took a deep breath.
"...Fresh air."
Behind him, another voice answered.
"Good morning."
Saito turned around.
Kaito was already awake, quietly checking his knives.
"Oh."
"You're up early."
Kaito looked at him.
"I wanted to—"
Saito raised a hand with a grin.
"I know."
"An assassin needs to take care of his health."
Kaito nodded once.
"Good."
Saito laughed.
"I've been hearing that speech for years."
The two walked downstairs together.
The smell of fresh bread filled the bar.
Malfoy was unlocking the front door.
"Morning, Sir Saito."
Saito smiled.
"Morning, Malfoy."
Malfoy adjusted his apron.
"I'm about to open the bar."
He glanced outside.
"Could you help Fanny bring the new supplies inside?"
Saito nodded immediately.
"Sure."
He stepped outside.
A wagon loaded with barrels stood in front of the bar.
Fanny was struggling to lift one of the wine barrels.
She grunted.
"...It's heavier than I thought."
Saito walked over.
"Here."
"Let me help."
Fanny smiled with relief.
"Thanks, Captain."
Saito placed both hands on the barrel.
"One..."
"Two..."
Together they lifted it onto their shoulders.
"Ready?"
Fanny nodded.
"Ready."
The two carried the barrel into the bar while Malfoy smiled quietly from the doorway, watching the Blue Scarf captain help as though he were simply another member of the family rather than the leader of a feared gang.
After carrying the last barrel inside—
Saito dusted off his hands.
"Finally."
He walked over to a table.
Kaito and Bomb were already sitting there.
Bomb slid a mug across the table.
"For the hardworking captain."
Saito caught it with a grin.
"Much appreciated."
He sat down.
The three quietly enjoyed their drinks while the morning customers slowly began filling the bar.
The front door opened.
Creak...
A lone man wearing a dark hood stepped inside.
His face remained hidden beneath the hood.
He walked calmly to the counter.
"One cup of drink, please."
Malfoy smiled politely.
"Coming right up, sir."
He reached for a clean mug and poured the drink.
The hooded man sat alone in the corner of the room.
Saito glanced at him for only a second before returning to his drink.
Bomb leaned closer.
"Know him?"
Saito shook his head.
"Never seen him before."
Kaito quietly observed the stranger from across the room.
The hooded man remained completely still.
Neither looking around nor speaking to anyone.
He simply waited for his drink in silence.
The calm atmosphere of the bar continued, but the arrival of the mysterious customer drew quiet curiosity from more than one pair of eyes.
The hooded man slowly lifted his mug.
Before taking a sip, his eyes drifted toward the wall.
There—
a wanted poster of Saito hung beside the entrance.
He studied it for a moment.
Then quietly asked,
"I heard..."
"...he stays in this bar."
Malfoy glanced at the poster before looking back at the customer.
"Yeah."
The man looked at Saito's printed face again.
"What a kid..."
"I heard he defeated every gang in Jokun City."
Fanny, who was arranging bottles nearby, smiled proudly.
"Sure did."
"He even told me he defeated a man with those machine tentacles on his body."
The hooded man's hand paused around his mug.
"He did?"
Fanny nodded.
"Yep."
She scratched her head.
"His name was..."
"...I forgot."
The hooded man answered without hesitation.
"Scrapper."
Fanny snapped her fingers.
"Yep!"
"That's the one."
She looked at him curiously.
"You know him?"
A faint smile appeared beneath the hood.
"...I do."
He took a slow sip from his drink.
"We've crossed paths before."
Malfoy raised an eyebrow.
"So he was really that dangerous?"
The man looked at the wanted poster again.
"He wasn't someone most people could beat."
His smile widened ever so slightly.
"Which makes your captain..."
"...far more interesting than the rumors suggested."
Across the room, Saito casually continued his drink, unaware that the mysterious customer seemed to know far more about his past opponents than an ordinary traveler should.
The hooded man slowly swirled the drink in his mug.
Then he spoke calmly.
"What if..."
"...I told you Scrapper is here."
"...In this bar."
Fanny laughed.
"No, he isn't."
"He died in the explosion."
"That's what Captain told me."
The man smiled faintly.
"He survived."
At another table—
Saito's expression changed.
He slowly set his mug down.
"...Kaito."
Kaito understood immediately.
He nodded once.
Then—
Whoosh.
He disappeared.
A heartbeat later—
he reappeared behind the hooded man.
A knife rested against the stranger's throat.
The bar instantly fell silent.
Malfoy's eyes widened.
"What are you doing?"
"He's a customer!"
Saito stood up from his chair.
"I'm afraid..."
"...he isn't, sir."
Bomb immediately stepped in front of Fanny.
"Stay behind me."
Footsteps echoed from upstairs.
Rin rubbed his eyes as he walked down the stairs.
"...What's all the noise?"
"You disturbed my sleep."
He reached the bottom step.
Then saw Kaito's knife at the stranger's neck.
"...Oh."
His expression became serious.
Saito walked toward the hooded man.
He stopped only a few steps away.
"I know you..."
"...Traveler."
A smirk appeared beneath the hood.
"Heh."
"So..."
"...the cat's out of the bag."
The man slowly reached up.
He pulled back the hood.
Metallic tentacles unfolded behind him with a low mechanical hiss.
Twitch...
Twitch...
Fanny gasped.
Bomb narrowed his eyes.
Rin gripped his scythe.
Saito's expression remained calm.
"...Didn't know you'd survive."
"...Scrapper."
Scrapper smiled.
The metal tentacles shifted behind him like living creatures.
"It's been a long time..."
"...Blue Scarf."
The bar remained silent.
Kaito slowly lowered his knife but kept it ready.
Saito looked directly at Scrapper.
"...Why are you here?"
Scrapper stretched his shoulders, the metal tentacles folding back behind his coat.
"To meet you, of course."
Saito studied him for a moment.
His voice softened.
"We mourned you."
He paused.
"Shiro..."
"Mina..."
"They all thought you died."
For the first time, Scrapper's smile faded.
"...How are they?"
Saito nodded.
"They're fine."
"They're still together."
He glanced at Kaito.
"Kaito."
Kaito silently stepped back, slipping the knife away.
Scrapper rubbed the back of his neck.
Saito folded his arms.
"If you were alive..."
"...why didn't you go back to them?"
Scrapper let out a quiet chuckle.
"Heh..."
"I never really thought about it."
He looked down at his mechanical arm.
"After I survived..."
"I just kept moving."
"One place after another."
"I was too focused on the next adventure."
He looked out the window.
"And..."
"I wanted to find a new territory to call my own."
Saito nodded slowly.
"I see."
Neither of them spoke for a few seconds.
The tension that had filled the room moments earlier had eased, replaced by an awkward silence between two men who had once fought to the death.
Bomb looked between them.
"...So..."
"...are we still fighting him or not?"
Saito kept his eyes on Scrapper.
"Not unless he gives us a reason."
Scrapper smiled faintly.
"I didn't come here looking for a fight."
"I came here looking for a conversation."
The Blue Scarf crew remained alert, but their weapons lowered slightly as the atmosphere shifted from confrontation to an uneasy reunion.